Your Ears And Nose Keep Growing As You Age

Why does it seem like a person's ears and nose continue to grow until old age? Height doesn't change after puberty (well, if anything we get shorter as we age) but ears and noses are always lengthening. That's due to gravity, not actual growth. As you age, gravity causes the cartilage in your ears and nose to break down and sag. This results in droopier, longer features. Studies have estimated that ears lengthen at a rate of about .22 millimeters per year. Learn more about your changing body in the videos below.